Kecia Lewis & Rebecca Naomi Jones to Star in Marie and Rosetta

Atlantic Theater Company has announced the world premiere of George Brant’s play with music, Marie and Rosetta, starring Broadway stars Kecia Lewis and Rebecca Naomi Jones. The play centers around guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the 30s queen of “race records,” as she and her young protegee Marie Knight prepare to tour. Directed by Atlantic’s artistic director, Neil Pepe, this production begins previews at the Linda Gross Theater August 24, with an opening on October 2.

Lewis, recently seen Off-Broadway in Mother Courage, portrays Rosetta. Her select Broadway credits include Chicago, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Once On This Island, and the original Broadway cast of Dreamgirls.

Jones currently has a recurring role on the FX comedy “Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll.” She appeared in the Tony-winning revival of Hedwig and the Angry Inch in the gender-bending role of Yitzhak, alongside both Taye Diggs and John Cameron Mitchell. Other credits include American Idiot, Passing Strange, and Murder Ballad. This season she’ll appear in Encores! God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater.

As an artist who influenced legends such as Ray Charles and Jimi Hendrix, Tharpe was one of the most acclaimed performers of her time. Both controversial and passionate, she helped push gospel music into the mainstream with guitar and swing.

The play features scenic design by Riccardo Hernández, costume design by Dede Ayite, lighting design by Christopher Akerlind, sound design by Steve Canyon Kennedy, music direction by Jason Michael Webb and casting by Telsey + Company.

The Author

Tristan Halstead

Tristan traded in his hometown ATL for his city of birth NYC to earn a BFA in Dramatic Writing at NYU. When he isn’t tackling a new script, he’s collecting Playbills, ushering on Broadway, or making a background appearance in some random television show.